As one of the bigger sides, it is surprising on how few occasions we have met Aberystwyth in senior competitive football. We have met five times in the Welsh Cup with Barry coming on top in terms of wins, for two years we played each other in the Abacus League National Division, and, of course, since Barry joined the League of Wales in 1994.
Our first meetings came immediately after, the war, with Barry defeating Aberystwyth in 7th round of the Welsh Cup in 1947-48, a 2-1 victory at Park Avenue, before hammering Aber 7-2 two seasons later in a 4th round tie at Jenner Park. We met in another fourth round tie many years later, 1963-64, where Aber won 2-1 here at Jenner Park, although Barry achieved revenge at the end of the decade winning 3-0 in 1969-70. Our most recent Welsh Cup meeting was in the 1991-92 season, where Aberystwyth won 3-1.
Barry and Aberystwyth first met in league football in the 1987-88 season, when Aberystwyth left mid-Wales football to join the Abacus National Division. In our first meeting, early in the New Year, Aber did much to undermine Barry's title challenge that season defeating Barry 3-1. Brendan Dowd scored the Barry goal in the game, which led to the resignation of manager, Richie Morgan. Former Barry player, Mike Cosslett, scored twice in the match for Aber. However, in the return at Jenner Park, a Martin Goldsmith goal clinched victory for Barry.
The following year saw both sides back on form. Meeting first at Jenner Park at the opening of November '88, two penalty goals from Paul Evans and a third from Colin Williams led Barry to a 3-1 victory over the mid-Walian side, who were pushing Barry for the title that season. However, in the return match at Park Avenue, a Dai Withers goal earnt Barry a point and all but a sixth Abacus title. That was confirmed the following week at Ton Pentre.
With the exception of the Welsh Cup match of 91-92, the next meeting was on New Year's Eve, 1994, in our first League of Wales encounter. In a 2-2 draw, Ben Graham scored Barry's opening goal to the delight of manager, John Lewis. However, that was the last game which he played for the club as Graham, who was on a month's loan from Cardiff City, was sent off, perhaps harshly, for a second bookable offence. Aberystwyth looked to have secured all three points until well into injury time, when Dai Withers popped up to score an equaliser for Barry.
Back at Jenner Park in the following April, Barry comfortably won 3-1, Francis Ford netting twice and Dai Withers scoring the other past the Seasiders.
A much tighter match was fought out at Park Avenue in November, 1995. The only separation between the two sides was Mattie Holtam's 58th minute strike which took a deflection to pass by the forest of players on the Aberystwyth goalline. Nevertheless, it was enough for Barry to return home with the points.
Aber also pushed Barry to the wire in the return at Jenner Park. A Tony Bird header in the first half put Barry in the lead, but at the start of the second half, Aberystwyth were able to get an equaliser. The game looked to be a draw, until the Aber defence committed themselves on the left, and the ball was squared across goal for Barry substitute, Phil Williams, to bundle the ball into the net, and keep up Barry's league title challenge.
When the two sides met at Park Avuenue in October, 1996, it was Aber who took the lead and pressed strongly throughout the first half. Gavin Allen, having missed a first minute opportunity, put it right with his ninth minute goal, and the home support seemed certain that they would get three points from the encounter. However, they were mistaken, as Barry stepped up a gear in the second half, and goals from Gary Lloyd, Cohen Griffith, Chris Pike and Darren Ryan saw Barry win 4-1.
Returning to Jenner Park in March, 1997, Aberystwyth were simply unable to match a Barry side which was firing on all cylinders. Gary Lloyd opened the scoring in the 21st minute, with Tony Bird adding a second only minutes later. Bird scored again, before Aber scored a consolation goal through Matthew Harrison. However, as Aber celebrated, Bird finished off his hat-trick, to give Barry a 4-1 half-time lead. The second half continued in the same vein, although it was Chris Pike who was the recipient of the chances, himself scoring a hat-trick. Barry's other goal in the 8-1 victory was from Gary Lloyd.
It was an experience which Aber supporters will not wish to repeat!
However, let's hope for an entertaining and exciting game.
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This page maintained by the Yellow Dragon, 1998.
This material first published in the Barry Town matchday magazine, v Aberystwyth Town,
League of Wales, 17.01.98.
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